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Mon 07 Jul 2006US rejects talks offer and seeks end to Syrian ties with HizbullahThe United States has played down suggestions that Syria could be isolated from Iran and persuaded to abandon its support for Hizbullah. US ambassador to the UN John Bolton yesterday dismissed Syria's offer of direct talks on the Middle East conflict, which some US analysts view as an opportunity to divide Damascus and Tehran."Whether Syria and Iran can be separated is a good question, but I think in immediate terms, what we want is for them to cut off their supplies of assistance to Hizbullah," Mr Bolton said.